Andrew McCleary

{{short description|Canadian politician (1863–1944)}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}

Andrew McCleary (1863 – 1944) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1927 to 1932, as a member of the Progressive Party.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/hansard/members/mla_bio_deceased.html#M0 |title=MLA Biographies - Deceased |work=Legislative Assembly of Manitoba |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330155427/http://www.gov.mb.ca/hansard/members/mla_bio_deceased.html |archivedate=2014-03-30 }}

Born in Shelburne, Canada West, McCleary came to Minitonas, Manitoba and settled on a Dominion Lands Act homestead in the Ravensworth district. He served as a school trustee, was a member of the municipal council and was reeve for the Rural Municipality of Minitonas from 1912 to 1914.{{cite web |url=http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/municipalities/minitonasrm.shtml |title=Rural Municipality of Minitonas |work=Manitoba Municipalities |publisher=Manitoba Historical Society |accessdate=2013-02-15}} In 1920, he was president of a small local organization called the "People's Independent Party". He sought the nomination of this party for the constituency of Swan River in the 1920 provincial election, but lost to Robert Emmond.{{cite book |url=http://www.ourroots.ca/page.aspx?id=935461 |title=Lasting impressions : historical sketches of the Swan River Valley |page=186 |accessdate=2013-02-18}}

He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1927 provincial election in Swan River, defeating Liberal candidate William H. Sims and Conservative W. Hinchcliffe. He did not seek re-election in 1932. During his time in the legislature, McCleary was a backbench supporter of John Bracken's government.